Can-making machine



Aug. 4, 1925.

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE 4 SheetS Sheet 1 Filed May 24. 1924 Aug.4, 192s. 1,548,743

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug.4. 1925.

A. w. POWELL- CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 19 24 4 Sheets-SheetFlu/mm fez Q22 26% Z/JPaM Z Aug. 4, 1925.

A. w. POWELL CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 24. 1924 4 SheetsSheet 4of'zdifi audi Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

v UNITED STATES ALFRED w. POWELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-MAKING MACHINE.

Application filed May 24, 1924. Serial No. 715,626.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W. POWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in CairMaking Machines, of whichthe'tollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to can making machines and moreparticularly to those of the class employed for applying metallic headsto the ends or" can bodies; and the primary object of the invention isto provide a novel and improved machine of this class which is capableof operating with equal facility and efiiciency in applying heads toeither empty or filled cans, the operation of the machine is continuous,rapid and reliable, and the adjustments required are few and can be madereadily and with facility.

To these and other ends. the invention consists in certain improvementsand combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinaftermore fully described, the features of novelty being pointed outvparticularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a can maleing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention, the machine in this instance being adapted to efiect a singleseaming of the head; I

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a can making machine constructed inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention, the machine in thisinstance being adapted to eflect double seaming of the can head;

Figure 3 represents on an enlarged scale a side elevation of the machineas shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2, the same being viewed from the lowerside of such figures;

Figure 4 represents'on an enlarged scale a cross-section on the linel-l, Figure 1;

v Figure 5 represents on an enlarged scale a section through thehead-applying unit, the section being taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;v

Figure 6 represents on an enlarged scale a section through the seamingunit of the ma" chine, this section being taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 1;

. Figure 7 is atop plan view showing on an enlarged scale one of thecau' holders;

' Figure 8 is an elevation of one of the can holders, a portion of thisView being shown in section;

Figure 9 is an elevation of the can holder shown in Figure 8 as viewedfrom the right.

Figure 10 represents in section a development or lay-out of a portion ofthe headapplying unit of the machine, illustrating diagrammatically themode of feeding the can heads and applying and seating the same upon thecan bodies;

Figure 11 represents on an enlarged scale a section taken radiallythrough a portion of the seaming unit which produces a single seaming ofthe can head, a portion of the can being shown in section to illustratethe seam produced in this unit;

Figure 12 represents a section taken radially through a portion of thesecond seaming unit, when such is employed, this View showing the doubleseaming operation partially performed;

Figure 13 represents a section taken at another point radially of thesecond seaming unit, showing the manner in which the double seamingoperation is completed.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in theseveral views.

The present invention is applicable to the application of heads to formthe bottoms of empty cans or the application of heads to the tops offilled cans, or to both of these operations, and it is also applicableto the seaming of heads on either empty or filled cans, or both. Thepreferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings and will be hereinafter described in detail. It is to beunderstood, however; that the invention is not restricted to the preciseconstructions shown as equivalent constructions are contemplated andsuch will be included within the scope of the claims.

In the present instance, the machine comprises a suitable table or base1 which serves to support the various mechanisms of the machine. In theembodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, the machine C011} prisesgenerally a head-applying unit 2, a seaming unit 3, a feeding device 4for supplying the cans or can bodies to the machine, and a dischargedevice 5 for removing the headed cans from the machine. In theembodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 the machine comprises ahead-applying unit 2 which may be identical with that shown in Figure 1,the first seaming unit 3 which may be identical with the seaming unitshown in Figure 1, and a second seaming unit 6, the construction ofwhich will be hereinafter described and which operates on the can headsafter a single seam has been produced by the first seaming unit 3, toeffect double seaming of the can heads. -The' tion 9 and bottom 10, thelatter being rotatable relatively to the body portion. The body portionis in the form of a cylinder, the inside diameter of which approximatelyequals the diameter of the can bodies to be handled. The front ofeachbody portion is cut away for a distance of somewhat less than halfthe circumference of the body portion, leaving more than half of thecircumference of the body portion to receive and hold the can body. Theportion 9 has an extension 11 which extends upwardly from its rear side.The upper portion of this exten sion is recessed at 12 on a radius whichconforms with the periphery of the can heads, and the upper end of thisextension forms a hook 13 which is adapted to overlie a head resting ona top of a can body in the holder and to thereby prevent displacement ofthe head relatively to the can body. A wing 14 extends from the rearedge of the body portion 9, this wing being inclined or extending atsuch an angle that its rear edge will lead to or aline substantiallywith the front edge 15 of the next following holder on the chain, thisbeing clear from Figures 1 and 2. The can body, while in the holder,rests on the bottom 10 of the holder. The holder bottom comprises aplate which is freely revolu ble relatively to the bottom portion 9 ofthe holder. As shown in the present instance, the bottom 10 has a hubformed with avertical bore 16 which fits loosely over the up per end ofa pin 17, which latter forms one of the pins or pintles of the conveyorchain l. The bottom 10 preferably rests on a steel ball 18, the ball, inturn, resting in a spherical or other suitable seat 19 in the upper endof the pin 17. Suitable means is provided for preventing verticaldisplacement of the bottom 10 relatively to the pin 17, the upperportion of the latter in the present instance being formed with acontinuous circumferential groove 20 in which may fit the inner end of aretaining screw 21. The body portion 9 of the holder is mounted on theconveyor chain by means of a downwardly extending bracket or extension22 which rests on the upper side of the conveyor chain 7 and may besecured thereto in any suitable way, as b a flange 23-011 the pin 17which clamps tie bracket 22 against the upper side of the chain.

Any suitable means may be provided for supplying the can bodies to theholders on the conveyor chain before the holders reach the head-applyingunit 1. Preferably, and as shown in the present instance, acontinuouslytravelling belt 2% is provided, this belt passing over apulley 25 which is located, immediately beside the path of movement ofthe holders, and the upper stretch of the belt travelling toward theholders between the sides 26 of a guiding trough. The can bodies,designated C, rest endwise on the upper stretch of this belt and thecontinuous movement of the belt carries the can bodies toward theholders on the conveyor chain, the can bodies on the belt abuttingdirectly against one another. The foremost can body on the feeding beltwill enter the open side or front of a holder 8 as the latter reaches aposition substantially in alinement with the feeding belt, while thenext following can body on the feeding belt, due to the movement of theconveyor chain, will be received by the receding or inclined wing 14 onthe holder, this can body being thereby directed properly into the nextfollowing holder on the conveyor chain.

The head-applying unit 2 which fits and applies heads to the can bodiesconducted thereto by the conveyor comprises a lower relatively fixedplate 27 and an upper revoluble plate 28 which rests directly on theplate 27. The upper revoluble plate 28 re: volves continuously and itmay be driven from a shaft 29 through a hub 30 which is fixed to theshaft 29 and is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 28. The shaft29 has a sprocket wheel 31 fixed thereon, the chain of the conveyor 7meshing with and passing around this sprocket wheel. The outer marginalportion of the lower relatively fixed plate 27 is imperforate to prov dea surface ,over which the can heads may travel, except for the openings27 and 27 therein which permit the can heads to descend preparatory totheir application to the can bodies. The upper revoluble plate 28 is ofa thickness which corresponds substantially with the thickness of thebeaded can heads h, and this plate is provided with openings 28 whichcorrespond in spacing with the spacing of the holders 8, while thelatter pass around the sprocket wheel 31, the openings 28 in the upperplate providing pockets in which the can heads are received singlyorindividually and are thuscarried over the upper side of the lowerplate 27 until they reach the openings 27 therein, the can heads thendescending successively through this opening 27 preparatory to theirsuccessive application to the respective can bodies. The upper rotatableplate 28 may be held in proper relation with the lower stationary plate27 by a suitable number of rollers 32 which are mounted on brackets 33and overlie and bear upon the marginal edge of the plate 28.

The can heads h are supplied to this unit preferably by a magazine 34;which may be of any suitable construction adapted to hold the stack ofthe can heads. The bottom of the magazine, which may com-prise anapproximately ring-lilre member 35 is sup ported slightly above theupper surface of the revoluble plate 528-,- it being shown secured inthis position in the present instance by a screw 36 which secures it toa relatively fixed bracket 37. The lowermostcan head in the stackcontained in the magazine will drop into an opening 28 in the plate 28,when such opening comes into a position beneath the magazine, and inorder to separate this lowermost can head from the remain ing heads inthe stack,,a blade 38 is provided at the rear edge of each opening 2 8,the blade being positioned slightly above the can head in the opening 28and resting on the upper side of the plate 27 so that the continuedrotation of the plate 28 will cause this blade to enter between thelowermost head in the opening 28* and the head next above it in thestack, the blade thus separating the lowermost head from those above itand insuring the reception of a single head only in each opening 28* asthe latter pass beneath the magazine.

Means is provided beneath the plate 27 to guide the can bodies in a pathconcentric with the axis of the shaft 29 in order to insure properreception of the heads. As shown, a pair of curved angle irons 39' aresecured in parallelism on the under side of this plate 27, they forminga guideway between them which is of a width correspond ing to thediameter of the can bodies, Furthermore, curved rails 4-;0' may be fixedin position to engage the outer sides of the can bodies and therebyretain them within the holders.v In this way, the can bodies, whilepassing through the head-applying uni-t, travel in a true circular path.

The head-applying means receives the heads, one at a time, through theopening 27 in the plate 27 and applies the heads successively to therespective can bodies during the travel of the can bodies through thehead-applying unit. The means for performing these operations consistsin the present instance or a pair of rails 41 which may be secured atone. end to the under side of the plate 27 as at 42', these rails beingcurved to conform with the curved path through which the can bodiestravel. and

- these rails are spaced apart sufiicien-tly to permit the extensions 11of the travelling holders to project upwardly therethrough. These rails,moreover, extend in parallelism with the plane of movement of theholders and at a level slightly above the tops of the can bodies 0contained therein, the hooks 13, however, on the extensions 11 of theholders projecting above these rails. Asa head being advanced over theupper side of:

the plate 27 while contained in an opening 28 in the upper revolubleplate 28 reaches the opening 27 in the lower stationary plate, the head,being no longer supported, drops by gravity onto the rails 41. Thedriving means for the revoluble plate 28 is timed in advance of thetiming of the travelling holders so that each head will drop through theopening 27 onto the rails 41 somewhat in advance of the respectiveholders. Consequently, when the head has settled flatwise on the rails41, the upper portion of the extension 1.1 on the holder will projectabove the head and it will abut against the rear edge of the head, andthe continued advancing movement ofthe holder will cause the head, whileresting on the rails tl, to be advanced in unison with the can body 0beneath it and contained in the respective holder, as is shown in Figure10. During this advance of the head, the latter is centered relativelyto the can body by the angle irons or rails 39' at the sides and by thepart of the extension 11 which it engages, this part: or? the extensionbeing formed on the san're radius as that of the head and concentricallyoi' the can body a in the holder; Also,- the can body in the holder iscentered at this time by the body portion 8 of the holder which engagesthe can body at the front and rear thereof and also at the inner side,and by the rails- 39 and. 40. Beyond the rails ii are providedadditional rails- 43 which may be secured to the under side of therelatively fixed plate 27, the portions 43 of these rails which areadjacent to the rails 41 being inclined downwardly from the plate 27 andthe remainder oi the rails 43 extending downwardly into close proximityto the tops of the can bodies 0 the holders. Vhen a head reaches theinclined portions 453 of these rails, the head forced? downwardly towardthe can body, the rails 41 being interrupted at this point to permitsuch action to take place and as the advancing movement of the head'an'dcan body continues, the head will be pressed-- evenly and complet'etyonto the topof' the can body, as is shown in the left-hand end of Figure1.0.

The cans with the heads applied thereto in the manner just describedpass from the head-applying unit. 2 into the seaming unit 3 by themovement of the conveyor In order to retain the applied headson the canbodies during this transiier, rails 445' are preferably provided whichmay be continuations, in effect, of the rails 43, these rails 44 hearingon the heads and thus holding them on the respective can bodies. Toprevent swaying of the conveyor or chain 7 while transferring the canbodies and heads from the unit 9. to the unit 3, a trough 45 may beprovided through which the chain or conveyor travels, as shown inFigure4.

The'seaming vunit 3, which operates to produce a single seam on the canhead comprises, asshown in detail in Figure 6, a revs oluble seamingring 46 which is fixed on and is concentric with a shaft 47, the latterserving torevolve this seaming ring, and an outer segmental seaming ring48. The inner revoluble seaming ring may be carriedby a wheel 49' whichis adjustably secured at' the proper elevation on the shaft 47 by theconical members '50 which are threaded on the shaft. The outer segmentalseamingring 48 is'somewhat eccentric to the inner revoluble seaming ring46, the spacing between the rings 46 and 48 at the point where the upperends of the can bodies and the heads enter the seaming unit beinggreater thaniat' the point where the seamed cans leave theseaming unit,this eccentricity between the seaming rings producing a progressiveseaming operation as the headed cans pass through the seaming unit. The

formation of the seaming rings 46 and 48 is shown on an enlarged scalein Figure 11, the rings having grooves 46 and 48*, re-

' spectively, into which the peripheral edges of the can headsh arerolled and the rings having ribs or flanges 46 and 48 which produce therolling or seaming action upon the canrheads. 'The outer segmental seaming ring 48 is preferably mounted so that it may be adjusted bothaxially and radially of the: shaft 47, thereby enabling the outer ring48 to be brought-intothe proper plane relatively to the innerrevolublering 46 and the proper eccentricity between the rings maybeobtained. As shown in the present instance, the ring 48 is supported bya relatively fixed frame 51, and the ring 48 is fitted in a carrier 52having threaded studs 53v thereon which project outwardly throughopenings 54 in the frame 51 and have adjusting nuts 55 and 5-6 threadedthereon. The adjusting nuts55 and 56 are. adapted to clamp against theinner and outer, sides of the frame v51 at different points around theshaft 47, thereby holding the. outer ring 48in the proper eccentricrelation with the shaft 47; and set screws 57 threaded in lugs on theframe 51 engage, the upper and lowersides of the nuts 56 and therebyserve as'means for adjusting the elevation of the ring 48 and forholding said ring at the proper. level relatively to the ring 46. Y

. The can bodies having the heads applied thereto are introduced intoand carried through the seaming unit by the movement of the conveyor 7which passes around a sprocket wheel 59 which is loosely mounted torevolve on a relatively fixed hub 60 which is concentric with the shaft47. .The inner seaming ring 46 isdriven at a speed higher than the speedof rotation ofthe sprocket wheel 59, and during the advanceofthe headedcans, the rapidly revolving seaming ring 47 causes the can bodies torevolve within their holders, the can bodies resting on the bottoms 10of the holders and being free to revolve, and this revolving movement ofthe can bodies with the heads applied thereto between the seaming rings46jand 48 causes the peripheral edges of the can heads to be rolled andseamed in substantiallythe manner shown in Figure 11. i 7 hen a singleseam only is desired, the single seaming unit 3 only is used, but wherea double seam is desired, the second seaming unit 6 is employed. Thissecond seaming unit is identical with the seaming unit 3 excepting theformation of the operative surfaces of the seaming rings. Figures 12 and13 show the form of the seaming rings used in the second seaming unit 6to producea double seam. As shown, the inner seaming ring 146 has a ribor flange 146 which is shallower than that used in the seaming unit 3,and the outer seaming ring 148 has a. rib or flange 148 whichisshallower than that used on the outer ring of the seaming unit 3. Theseseaming rings of the seaming unit 6 are arranged eccentrically, as inthe unit 3 and they receive the single seamedcans at the. point wherethey are more widely spaced, thisbeing represented substantially inFigure 12. 'As the. cans progress be.- tween these seaming ring's,thesingle seam on the can heads which was previously formed in the 'unit 3,is further rolled and fiattened, dueto the convergence of theseamingrings 146 and 148 and the shallowness of the ribs or flanges 146" and148? thereof until a double seam substantially as shown in Figure 13, isproduced. In using a second seaming unit 6, as shownin Figure2, toproduce double seams on the cans, the conveyor 7 is preferably caused topass around an idler sprocket 61 located between the two seaming unitsin order that thecans may pass through a substantially semicircular'path while passing through eac of the seaming units. 7 i a The seamedcans may be removed from the conveyor in any suitable way. The dischargedevice 5 shown for this purpose in the present instance comprises atrough 62 through which .the seamedcans may dis-.

tion 9 and the bottom 10 of the holders, this finger acting as theholders advance to dis place the seamed cans from the holders and todirect them into the trough 62.

The invention as herein shown and de scribed enables heads to be appliedto empty cans, in which case, the empty cans would be fed to theconveyor, and it also enables heads to be applied to filled cans whichhave been proviously provided with heads to form the bottoms thereof.The machine may be driven in any suitable way, as, for example, throughthe shaft 29 which may be connected to an electric motor, a line shaft,or the like, the driving of this shaft serving to drive the conveyor 7through the sprocket wheel 31 fixed thereon. Also, the shaft 49 of theseaming unit may be driven from the shaft 29 by a belt 64 and pulleys 65and 66 fixed, respectively, on the shafts 29 and 47.

The present invention provides a can making machine which is relativelysimple and inexpensive in construction and which is capable of rapidlyand efiiciently applying and seaming heads on cans and similarreceptacles, the operations being performed while the cans orreceptacles proceed continuously through the machine. It is to beunderstood, however, that the head applying unit is applicable to otheruses where it is desired to apply heads, caps or closures to receptaclesand the like, or that the seaming unit or units are applicable to otheruses where it is desired to produce seams similar to those used inseaming heads to cans; and such uses are comprehended by the invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a can making machine, head-applying meanscomprising superposed relatively rotatable members, the lower memberproviding a surface along which can heads may travel and an openingthrough which the heads may pass for application to the can bodies, andthe upper member having openings therein to receive the heads and toadvance them to said opening in the lower giember while supported by thelower mem- 2. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising alower plate having an opening therein, an upper plate revoluble on thelower plate and having a series of pockets therein each to contain a canhead and operative to advance such head along the upper surface of thelower plate for discharge through the opening therein, and a magazinefor holding a stack of can heads which rest on the upper surface of theupper plate in the path of movement of the pockets therein.

3. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising superposedrelatively rotatable members, the lower member having an opening for thedischarge of heads therethrough, and the upper member having series ofpockets to receive and advance heads to said opening while resting onthe lower member, means for holding a stack of heads whereby the lattersuccessively enter said pockets, and a blade adjacent to each pocketoperative to separate a head Which has entered a pocket from theremainder of the stack.

4:. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising superposedrelatively rotatable plates, the lower plate having a:

head discharge opening therein, and the upper plate having a thicknesssubstantially equal to the thickness of the can heads and having slotstherein to contain heads and to advance them toward the opening in thelower plate while the heads rest on the upper surface of the lowerplate, means for holding a stack of heads whereby the lowermost heads inthe stack will-successively enter the slots in the upper plate, and ablade at the edge of each slot in the upper plate and operative toseparate a head which has entered the respective pocket from theremainder of the stack.

5. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travellingcarriage carrying holders for can bodies, a rail extending opposite tothe path of travel of the upper ends of can bodies in said holders,means on each can body holder for advancing a head supported on saidrail in unison with and above a can body, and means for applying saidhead to the can body.

6. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a conveyerfor advancing can bodies, a rail extending above the path of travel ofthe upper ends of the advancing can bodies, means for advancing aheadresting on said rail in unison with and directly above the can body, andanother rail arranged to engage above the head and to force it down ontothe can body.

7. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travellingholder for advancing a can body, and a rail to support a head above thecan body, the can body holder having an extension thereon which projectsupwardly above said rail and is operative to advance a head along it inunison and alinement above a can body in the holder.

8. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising a travellingholder to contain and advance a can body in a direction laterally of itsaxis, a rail extending opposite the path of movement of an end of thecan body to guide a head for travel there-along, and a part in fixedrelation with the holder and projecting into a position relatively tothe rail to engage an edge of; a head thereon and operative to advance ahead along the rail in unison and alinement with a can body in theholder.

9, In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising 'a travellingholder to contain and advance a can body laterally, arail extendingparallel to the path of movement of the holder for guiding a head fortravel edgewise, means travelling in unison with the holder for feedinga head to said rail, and means travelling in unison with the holder andoperative to advance the head along the rail while the head is inalinement with the can body in the holder. i

10. In a can making machine, head-applying means comprising acontinuously travelling holder for advancing a can body laterally and inupright position, a support along which a head may travel in parallelismwith the movement of the can body and in edgewise direction, means forguiding the can body and head to aline them transversely of theirdirection of movement,

and means for continuously advancing the head in unison with the canbody and for registerlng the head with the can body.

11. In a can making machine, the combination of a support on which ahead may rest fiatwise and travel edgewise, and a holder mounted totravel below the support and in parallelism therewith, the holder havinga seat to engage the sides of a can body and thereby position it, andhaving an extension-which projects beyond' said support and is recessedto fit against the edge of the head and thereby advance it along saidsupport and aline it with the can body in the holder.

7 12. In a. can making machine, the combination of a pair of laterallyspaced rails adapted to support a can head fiatwise for travel edgewisethereon, a holder for a canbody mounted to travel in parallelism withsaidxrails, the holder having an extension which projects upwardlybetween said rails to engage the edge of a head thereon and operative toadvance said head in unison with a can body in the holder, and anadditional pair of laterally spaced rails located beyond the railsfirstmentioned and having inclined portions to engage the upper side ofthe head and thereby apply it to the can body.

13. In acan making machine, the combination of a conveyer carrying aseries of spaced holders, and meansfor feeding can bodies to saidholders by movement transversely of the length of the conveyer, eachatively to the conveyer and asegmentwhich 'isvnon rotatable relativelyto the conveyer and comprises more than half a cylinder which providesanopen side through which i a can body may be received laterally fromthe feeding means.

15. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer having aseries or holders spaced thereon, and means for feeding can bodieslaterally and to the side of the conveyer, each holder having an openside to receive a can body from the feeding means and a wing to directthe next following can body from the feeding means into the nextfollowing holder on the conveyer.

16. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer for rotatablysupporting and advancing a can body having a. head applied thereto, andseaming members forming a passageway between them through which the headand adjacent portion of the can body are carried by the conveyer, one ofsaid members being rotatable rela-' tively to the other member, and saidmembers being operative to seam the head onto the can'body during thetravel of the head and can body between them.

17. In a can making machine, the combination of a conveyer for rotatablysupporting and advancing a can body having a head applied thereto, and apair of eccentrically arranged seaming members spaced to receive thehead and adjacent portion of the can body between them, said membersconverging as the can proceeds therethrough, and one of said membersbeing rotatable relatively to the other member to cause spinning of thecan body and head and seaming of the head onto the can body.

18. In a can making machine, the combination of a travelling holderembodying a rotatable bottom for revolubly supporting a can body and abody portion which positions a can body therein and exposes the upperportion of the can body and a head thereon, and spaced seaming membersextending substantially in parallelism with the path of movement of theholder and adapted to receive the head and upperportion of the can bodybetween them, one of said members being revoluble relatively to theother member and operative to effect seaming of the head onto thecanbody. a

19. In a can making machine, seaming means comprising a circularrevoluble seaming member, and a cooperative segmental seaming memberarranged eccentrb cally of the revoluble seaming member and spacedradially therefrom a distance substantially equal to the diameter of thecan head to be seamed.

20. In a can making machine, seaming means comprising a circularrevoluble seaming member, a cooperative segmental seaming member, saidmembers being relatively adjustable to bring them into the same plane,and means for adjusting the segmental seaming member in a directionradially of the circular seaming member.

21. Seaming means for can making machines and the like comprising arevoluble seaming member, and a cooperative segmental seaming member,said members presenting radially spaced complemental grooves to receivebetween them the edge of a can head, and adjacent ribs to effect seamingof the can head onto a can body.

22. In a can making machine, the combination of a head-applying unit, aseaming unit comprising opposed seaming members forming a passagewaybetween them for the can heads and bodies, a flexible con- Veyer forcontinuously conducting can bodies to and through the head applying unitand for continuously conducting can bodies having heads applied theretoto and through the seaming unit, means for feeding can bodies to theconveyer at a point in advance of the head-applying unit, and means forremoving headed can laterally from the conveyer at a point beyond theseaming unit.

23. In a machine of the character described, the combination of atravelling conveyer having a series of holders thereon, each holdercomprising a bottom to support a can body, and a portion spaced abovesaid bottom to center a can body, and a relatively stationary ejectorextending into the path of the conveyer and adapted to engage theportion of a can body exposed between the bottom and adjacent portion ofthe holder and to remove the can body from the holder.

24. In a can making machine, the combination of a head-applying unit, afirst seaming unit capable of single seaming a bead to a can body, asecond seaming unit capable of double seaming a bead to a can body, anda conveyer operative to conduct a can body into and through theheadapplying unit to receive a head, then to conduct the can body andhead to and through the first-seaming unit to eflect singleseaming ofthe head onto the can body, and then to conduct the singleseamed headand can body to and through the second seaming unit to effectdoubleseaming of the head onto the can body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED W. POWVELL.

